Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

He folded his hands behind his back. ‘You are the one—my chosen female counterpart, who will stand beside me and help us win this war.’ The stranger’s voice was pleasant but firm. ‘You are, in essence, my mate.’

Siray’s mouth dropped open, shock coursing through her from head to toe. She struggled to find her voice, to deny the terrible claim, but it was Baindan who managed to get the words out first.

‘She is not your mate,’ he practically spat at the male as he quickly stood up next to her.

For the first time, the stranger’s dark eyes shifted from Siray … and moved to Baindan. They assessed and measured, from Baindan’s mussed head to his sandy boots, then disregarded him, turning back to Siray. ‘You are my mate, because we are the same. We have the same rare gifts that mark both of us as separate from everyone else—above everyone else.’ The male walked towards her slowly, his eyes holding hers. ‘The Mother doesn’t gift just anyone with the form of the sevonix—only those who she wishes to lead.’

Siray swallowed, not liking where this was headed. But the male had said lead … ‘Who are you?’ Maybe learning more about him might help her navigate a way out of this.

‘I am Lord Chezran.’ The male said this quite simply, still in his smooth and pleasant voice, dipping his head slightly to her.

Siray also couldn’t help but notice Baindan stiffen beside her at the name, something that Lord Chezran clearly picked up as well.

But that wasn’t the only thing that drew Siray’s attention. She hadn’t missed the eyes of the otherwise expressionless soldiers behind the male widen slightly as their lord dipped his head to her.

This, and Baindan’s rigid posture, told her two things. One, the male in front of her was known to Baindan, and was obviously enough of an enemy that his body had reacted to the name even as his face maintained the same focused but unrevealing look.

And two, the reaction of the soldiers, minor as it was, told her that they had never seen their lord bow his head to anyone.

She didn’t mull over the two observations for long before the pieces came together swiftly. ‘You’re the leader of this army. Of the Faction.’ She said it with quiet certainty, swiftly running her eyes over the lord again to reassess everything in light of these new facts.

‘I am,’ Chezran acknowledged.

Siray glanced behind her quickly. Kovi seemed shocked, but Genlie and Zale had, if anything, grown more serious.

So they also knew the name. Odd, then, that she didn’t know it. Or did only highly trusted members within the Resistance have this intel?

Baindan, it seemed, couldn’t stay silent any longer, and his body shook slightly with barely controlled anger. ‘He is the reason that so many of our people have died. For his war. For power.’

Lord Chezran finally deigned to acknowledge Baindan. ‘Only ever working with half the picture … always the same with you Resistance types.’ The male’s tone was still smooth but held a deep note of contempt in it.

Baindan took a breath to return the lord’s barb, but Chezran spoke before he could.

‘I know what you must currently think of my cause, but I assure you that once you have joined me and understand what it is we are fighting for, you will gladly work with us.’

Siray shook her head, almost laughing out loud at the idea of ever working with these people. These butchers. ‘I’ve already seen what you fight for. And your methods,’ she added coldly, waving her hand around at the arena.

‘A necessary process,’ Chezran said matter-of-factly. ‘For what we must do, we must have only the strongest amongst us.’

‘Only the strong survive?’ she quoted back at him dryly. She thought that might annoy him, but instead his lips just quirked up at the corners a little.

‘As true now as it was at the start.’

Siray shook her head again in disbelief. Did Chezran really not understand the devastation he was causing on their world? The innocents he was killing? ‘I will not join you,’ she told him firmly.

Chezran didn’t react but merely continued to look at her for a long moment. ‘Do you know just how rare the form of the sevonix is amongst our people, Siray?’ He took a step closer to her. ‘In the last five generations, it’s only occurred three times—and on each occasion, there was one male, and one female, with the gift.’

Siray snorted. ‘Well, your information is wrong. This time—’

‘Yes, your friend,’ Chezran interrupted. ‘I am told he did not survive. Shame, as I could have used his abilities in some way.’

The dark-eyed male did not sound regretful at all over Deson’s death, and Siray’s hands balled into fists at her side.

Lord Chezran took another step closer. ‘Only one sevonix pair survives each generation, if that. And each time, the pair are chosen, in consultation with the Great Mother and the Ruling Council, to lead. Do you know why?’

Siray didn’t respond but just continued to hold Chezran’s gaze. Keeping her face expressionless when hatred was heating her very skin was hard, but she managed by digging her nails into her palms. And although she loathed herself for it, she was greatly interested to know why so many Kaslonian leaders had been able to take the form of the sevonix.

Chezran moved towards her again, planting his feet just a body length away. ‘Because those who take the form of the sevonix are the strongest, and the most intelligent, of our people. They are natural strategists. And we are what this world needs.’

Then he Changed. It happened so quickly that Siray flinched when an enormous sevonix appeared before her—it seemed Chezran had made the act of Changing an art form in itself—an ability that would be highly useful in battle.

But the thing that really stole her breath was Chezran’s size in that feline form. While Deson’s sevonix form had been somewhat larger than hers, Chezran’s was significantly